Foot-actuated mat with flashing indicators for video game console

ABSTRACT

Provided is a mat for a video game console. The mat includes a zone including weight sensitive pads having a mark on the top surface; an LCD; indicators around a track surrounding the zone and bordering the LCD; a light controller; a transceiver; and an MCU. In response to stepping on one pad corresponding to a mark shown on a TV associated with the console, the pad is activated to enable the MCU to generate a signal representing which pad the foot is stepping on, and the signal is transmitted from the MCU to the TV to display an updated score. Also, the MCU can activate the light controller to flash the indicators in a sequence. At the same time, operating a wireless controller to activate the console will transmit another signal either from the MCU to the console via the transceiver and the wireless controller or vice versa.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to video game consoles and more particularly to afoot-actuated mat for use with a video game console, the mat havingflashing indicators so that a person plays the mat in cooperation withthe video game console can be very excited.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional video game apparatus is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Theapparatus comprises a foot-actuated padded mat A including a pluralityof direction pads (e.g., up, down, left, and right arrow pads) A1 on thetop surface which is divided into nine rectangular zones including thefour direction pads A1, a MCU (micro control unit) A2 mounted in aninternal printed circuit board (PCB) (not shown), and a transmissionunit A3 electrically connected to the MCU A2; and a video game console Belectrically connected to the transmission unit A3 by a wire (notnumbered), the video game console B including a receiver unit B1.

Only the direction pads A1 are weight sensitive pads. A person may standon the central zone of the mat A prior to using the apparatus. Score isset to zero when the apparatus is activated. In use, a direction arrowmay appear on a display of the video game console B for a predeterminedperiod of time (e.g., one or two seconds). The person has to lift his orher foot and immediately step on one of the direction pads A1corresponding to the direction arrow within the time period. If so, theactuated direction pad A1 will enable the MCU A2 to generate a signalrepresenting which direction pad the foot is stepping on. Also, thesignal is transmitted from the MCU A2 to the transmission unit A3. Andin turn, the signal is transmitted from the transmission unit A3 to thereceiver unit B1 by wire. As an end, score is increased. The person maycontinue the above step until he or she does not want to use theapparatus or a desired high score is reached. This apparatus has thefeatures of both a game machine and an exerciser.

However, the well known video game apparatus suffers from severaldisadvantages. For example, it is relatively monotonous. Also, the trackbetween the peripheral edge of the mat A and the zones thereof isinoperative (i.e., wasted). Further, the foot and the wire may gettangled if sufficient care is not taken during use. Hence, the prior artapparatus have had little market acceptance. Thus, the need forimprovement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a foot-actuatedmat for a video game console, the mat having a plurality of flashingindicators so that a person plays the mat in cooperation with the videogame console can be very excited.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description taken withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional video game apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the components of thefoot-actuated mat and the video game console shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a foot-actuated mat according to theinvention for use with a video game console;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the components of thefoot-actuated mat according to the invention and connections to a powersupply, the video game console, and a remote control all cooperatingwith the foot-actuated mat; and

FIG. 5 is an environmental view of the foot-actuated mat according tothe invention and the video game console being operated by a person in asecond operation mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a foot-actuated, padded mat 1 according tothe invention for use with a video game console 3 is shown. The mat 1comprises the following components to be discussed in detail below.

A top surface of the rectangular mat 1 is divided into a central squareincluding square zones in which four weight sensitive direction pads(e.g., up, down, left, and right arrow pads) 11 are formed on centers offour sides respectively, a weight sensor (not shown) being provided ineach direction pad 11 for sensing the weight of a person standing uponthe mat 1 when a game is played as detailed later, a rectangular LCD(liquid crystal display) 16 adjacent the front end, and a tracksurrounding the central square of the mat 1 and bordering the LCD 16 inwhich a plurality of spaced indicators 15 shaped as a double-headedarrow are formed on four sides of the mat 1 (i.e., the track).

The following components are provided within the mat 1.

An MCU (micro control unit) 12 functions as a master controller. Anaudio sensor 17 is adapted to sense environmental sound and send a soundlevel signal to the MCU 12. A thermometer 18 functions to measuretemperatures and is adapted to send a temperature signal to the MCU 12.A weight scale 19 is adapted to measure weight of a person standing onthe mat 1 and send a weight signal to the MCU 12.

A light controller 14 comprises a brightness control unit 141 and alighting sequence control unit 142. The MCU 12 can transmit signals to atransceiver unit 13 and the transceiver unit 13 also can transmitsignals to the MCU 12. A rechargeable battery based power supply 2 isadapted to supply required power to the mat 1 in operation.

Referring to FIG. 5, an operation of the invention will be described indetail below. An arrow appears on a TV (not numbered) associated withthe video game console 3 for a predetermined period of time (e.g., oneor two seconds) after starting a video game. A person has to lift his orher foot and immediately step on one of the direction pads 11corresponding to the arrow within the time period. If so, the actuateddirection pad 11 will enable the MCU 12 to generate a signalrepresenting which direction pad the foot is stepping on (i.e.,scoring). Also, the signal is transmitted from the MCU 12 to the TV todisplay the updated score. The MCU 12 converts the weight, temperature,and sound level signals into digital representations to be shown the LCD16. Moreover, the MCU 12 activates the brightness control unit 141 tocontrol brightness of each indicator 15, and the lighting sequencecontrol unit 142 to control a lighting sequence of the indicators 15 inresponse to the weight, temperature, and sound level signals (i.e.,similar to running lights with flashing effect). The arrow appearingprocess will continue throughout the game. As a result, a veryinteresting game is played.

At the same time, the person holds a wireless controller 4 to operatethe video game console 3 while operating the mat 1. In this interactiveoperation mode, signals can be transmitted either from the MCU 12 to thevideo game console 3 via the transceiver unit 13 and the wirelesscontroller 4 or from the video game console 3 to the MCU 12 via thewireless controller 4 and the transceiver unit 13 by wireless. Thisoperation mode is more exciting. For example, the video game console 3is PS3 (PlayStation 3) and the wireless controller 4 is an accessorythereof. In another example, the video game console 3 is Wii and theremote control 4 is Wii Remote.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means ofspecific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could bemade thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

1. A mat for use with a video game console, a TV, and a wirelesscontroller, comprising: a foot-actuated zone including a plurality ofweight sensitive pads disposed on the top surface, the pads having amark thereon; a plurality of indicators disposed around a tracksurrounding the foot-actuated zone; a light controller; transceivermeans; and a MCU (micro control unit) for communicating signals with thetransceiver means, wherein in response to stepping on one of the padshaving a mark corresponding to a mark shown on the TV within apredetermined period of time, the pad is activated to enable the MCU togenerate a first signal representing which pad the foot is stepping on,and the first signal is transmitted from the MCU to the TV to display anupdated score; wherein the MCU is adapted to activate the lightcontroller for controlling brightness of each indicator and a lightingsequence of the indicators; and wherein in response to operating thewireless controller to activate the video game console while stepping onthe pad, a second signal is transmitted either from the MCU to the videogame console via the transceiver means and the wireless controller orfrom the video game console to the MCU via the wireless controller andthe transceiver means by wireless.
 2. The mat of claim 1, wherein thelight controller comprises a brightness control unit and a lightingsequence control unit.
 3. The mat of claim 1, further comprising arechargeable battery for supplying power to the indicators, the lightcontroller, the transceiver means, and the MCU.
 4. The mat of claim 2,further comprising an LCD (liquid crystal display) disposed on the trackand spaced from the indicators, an audio sensor for sensingenvironmental sound and sending a sound level signal to the MCU, athermometer for measuring temperatures and sending a temperature signalto the MCU, and a weight scale for measuring weight of a person standingon the mat and sending a weight signal to the MCU, and wherein the MCUis adapted to convert the weight signal, the temperature signal, and thesound level signal into digital representations to be shown the LCD, andwherein the MCU is adapted to activate the brightness control unit tocontrol brightness of each indicator and activate the lighting sequencecontrol unit to control the lighting sequence of the indicators inresponse to the weight signal, the temperature signal, and the soundlevel signal.
 5. The mat of claim 1, wherein the mark of the pad is anarrow.
 6. The mat of claim 5, wherein the arrow is an up, a down, aleft, or a right arrow.
 7. The mat for use with a video game console, aTV, and a wireless controller of claim 1, wherein the video game consoleis PS3 (PlayStation 3).
 8. The mat for use with a video game console, aTV, and a wireless controller of claim 1, wherein the video game consoleis Wii.